Archive for the ‘Featured Articles’ Category

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer Presidents Day Special Edition Oaklawn Park split Monday’s Southwest Stakes for Kentucky Derby hopefuls into two divisions and trainer Bob Baffert won both of them. Baffert, seemingly awash in Derby candidates, saddled Castaway in the first division and that Kentucky-bred Street Sense colt drew off in the stretch to […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer The weekend’s most-watched race turned out a viable Australian candidate for Dubai World Cup night; Florida’s top race of the weekend, not so much. Black Caviar easily won her 18th straight race Saturday, easily capturing the C. F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield. But in the $500,000, Grade I Donn […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer Shackleford (inside), who had a strong three-year-old campaign, makes his four-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park SaturdayJOHN KOSCIAK PHOTO This weekend: Four big graded stakes at Gulfstream Park and Black Caviar stretching out to 7 furlongs in Australia in quest of her 18th straight win. With Dubai World Cup night […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer Alpha is the new “alpha dog” among Kentucky Derby candidates – at least in New York – after the weekend round of prep races. A mishap in the stretch muddled California’s main weekend Derby prep while Florida’s featured a mild upset and Kentucky’s produced yet another a potential contender. […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer Kentucky Derby hopefuls are put to the test Saturday in New York, California, Florida and Kentucky as the “Road to the Roses” rounds the first turn. Aqueduct hosts the $200,000, Grade III Withers Stakes, leading to Empire State’s ultimate Derby prep, the Wood Memorial. At Santa Anita, it’s the […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer Algorithms upset Eclipse Award winner Hansen Sunday in a battle of unbeatens and immediately jumped into the thick of the Kentucky Derby mix. Elsewhere around the racing circuits: Musir sparkled but Presvis didn’t in Dubai, Ambitious Dragon had an auspicious start to his “Year of the Dragon” in Hong […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer There was no keeping up with the Joneses Saturday at Fair Grounds as owner/breeder Brereton Jones and trainer Larry Jones won both the 3-year-old races. Both Mr. Bowling, winner of the $175,000, Grade III Lecomte Stakes, and Believe You Can, winner of the $125,000 Silverbullet Day Stakes, now are […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer Kentucky Derby preps intensify this weekend with all eyes on New Orleans and the $175,000, Grade III Lecomte Stakes. Run at 1 mile and 70 yards, the Lecomte is the first Fair Grounds prep for the April 1 Louisiana Derby. Thirteen 3-year-olds are entered, including a few surprises, reflecting […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer A mixed bag of weekend races turned up some promising new stars, both among the 3-year-olds and in the ranks of older horses. As usual, retirements of aging stars left voids in the ranks in most divisions. And it will take a little time to sort out the new […]

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER UPI Racing Writer Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has two colts now on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rasheed al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, may finally have a legitimate threat to win the Kentucky Derby. Or two. Under his various racing names, Sheikh Mohammed has won […]